Folding-table construction



March 3, 1%31.

W. 5. BELLOWS FOLDING TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l 11v [051V TO A WARREN 5. B ELLOwsE.

March 3 W31.

FOLDING TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WARREN 5. BEL 0W5 Fatented an". 3 393K WARREN S. BELLOWS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY FOLDING-TABLE CONSTRUCTION Application filed March 20, 1926. Serial No. 96,209.

This invention relates to a rigidly constructed folding table of a type heretofore developed by me and described in various copending patent applications, more particu- 5 larly in my copending application Ser. No.

13,089, filed March 5, 1925.

It is an object of the present invention to form a folding table which, when set up in a position for use, will have an equal, if not greater, rigidity than the ordinary type of non-folding tables now in use for hotel, domestic and other purposes, and yet, when not in use, can be folded into a small fraction of the space occupied by a non-folding table.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding table in which the rim for the top is reinforced and strengthened by means of corner brackets carrying the folding legs and leg braces, so that the legs, corner brackets and rim form a rigid supporting structure regardless of the top material used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table of the type described, in which the corners of the rim are secured together by triangular plate members on which the top may rest, thereby increasing the rigidity of the table, securing larger supporting area for the top, and permitting lighter-weight top material to be used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rigid folding table, with legs braced in two directions, in which the legs may be positioned substantially in the corner of the table and contracting with each rim adjacent 35, the corner when the legs are in unfolded position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding table in which each corner bracket pivoially supports a leg and leg brace so that the corner brackets and braces may be assembled as a unit, and the legs and top of the table attached at a. later time.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automaticallylatching the legs in unfolded position when moved to that position and to hold them in that position until the latch is released so as to prevent accidental collapsing the legs when the table is in use.

Various other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

This application is a continuation, in part, of my copending application, Serial No. 27,354, filed May 2, 1925.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate one of the preferred forms of the embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view showing a corner of a table, with the legs in folded position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the corner brackets in inverted position with the leg unfolded;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the leg attachment, partially in section;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the leg attachment taken atsubstantially right angles to the view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 and Fig. 7. is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

In the form of embodiment illustrated, the 7 table comprises a rectangular rim portion 1 provided with a suitable top 2 which extends from side to side of the rim. At each corner of the rectangular rim, a corner bracket 3, comprising a triangular-shaped metal sheet 30 is formed to fit snugly against two Walls of the rim, and is adapted to contact with and be secured to the inner wall of the rim. The corner bracket may be attached to the inner edgeof the rim by means of screws or the like 35 4. To hold the top in place screws may be extended through the corner bracket into the top. These corner brackets hold the rim very firmly in its rectangular shape bracing it in two directions at each corner and permitting no wobbling or vibration of the same, even though the top is not in the rim or is of such flimsy material that it cannot be relied upon to impart any rigidity to the frame.

The legs 5 are secured to a triangular metal brace 6 which is pivoted to the corner bracket 3 parallel with one edge thereof. The brace 6 is preferably formed as one stamping and comprises the leg contacting section 6a, the brake section 6?), which braces the leg against nally through ears 7a and the bearings of the brace and is retained in the ears by the projecting head of one of the screws 4. The section 6a of the brace is secured to the inside of the leg 5 so that when the leg is in unfolded position, it is in very nearly the corner of the frame with the end of the leg against the underside of the table top and one side of the leg against the inside of the table rim or v corner bracket.

A second brace 9 is provided to brace the leg in its unfolded position in a direction parallel with the other side of the corner bracket 3 and perpendicular to the plane of the brace 6, and is also adapted to fold with the leg from folded to unfolded position. This brace-comprises a flat rod or bar 9a, which is pivoted on a bolt 9d between the ear 3c struck out from the corner bracket 3 and one side of the edge 3a of the corner bracket, a suitable washer 12 being interposed between said edge and'the brace. The other end of the brace slides in a keeper 10, attached to the leg, and is provided with a notch or latch 90, which cooperates with the bolt 10a for the keeper 10 to latch the leg in operative position. To prevent the notch 90 from belng displaced from the bolt 10a, a locking member 11 is slidably mounted on the bar 9a and is provided with a finger 11a extending outwardly from the slide in position to move automatically between the outer edge of the brace 9a and the top of the keeper 10, when the leg is extended into operative position to keep the notch 90 around the bolt 10a. When the table is upright and the legis moved to operative posltion, the notch 90 on the bar 9a, due to the force of gravity, drops onto the bolt 10a andthe slide 11 automatically moves down the bar 9 and projects the finger 11a into the space between the outer edge of the bar 9a and the keeper 10 to firmly lock the leg in its unfolded position. The keeper 10 1s preferably formed from a single bar or strap of metal which .is bent to form the loop for receiving the brace 9a and the ends 10?) thereof are preferabl turned over the inner edge of the leg to ho d the brace rigidly in place by means of the one bolt 10a. The metal of the brace 6is cut away or recessed at Go to washer 12 is mounted between the brace and side of the corner bracket and is provided with a fiat side 12a resting against the corner bracket 3 to prevent it from turning, and with a lug 120, with which the upper end of the brace 9a contacts when the leg is extended, to limit the movement of the brace and urge the notched end of the brace toward the pin 10a.

When folding the leg to inoperative position for collapsing the table, the lock 11 is moved upwardly on the brace 9a to move the finger 11a from the keeper 10, and the leg is turned about its pivot 6 to a position parallel with the rim or table top. At the same time, the bar 9a slides through the keeper 10 and turns about its pivot 9d to a position between the leg and the side of the corner bracket, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The bracket 6 folds fiat against the corner bracket 3, and in folded position parallelsthe leg 5. To assist in holding the legs in inoperative position, cars 13 may be struck up from the corner brackets 3 and the legs held frictionally against these ears so as to prevent accidental displacement of the legs and collapsing of the table while it is being carried from place to place, or while in storage. u

For use in preparing banquet tables in hotels, at picnics, and other places, where largesize tables are demanded, each of the tables may be provided with eyes 14 along one rim and hooks 14a alongthe other parallel rim, so that when the tables are set up the hooks 14a may be inserted in the eyes 14 to secure two or more of the tables rigidly together, thereby permitting a banquet table of any desired size to be built up, while preserving the rigidity of a unitary structure. A further advantage of the use of a table of this type for banquet purposes in lieu of the horses or very large leg folding tables now used in hotels, is the small size of the legs 5, and the fact that when the tables are interlaced together as described, the space between any two legs of adjacent tables is not large enough to cause any discomfort to the person who hagipens to be placed opposite the legs of the ta e.

If desired, the top 2 may be omitted without affecting the strength or rigidity of the table in-any way.

By pivoting the legs'and braces only to the corner brackets 3, and securing the legs only to the ,braces 6, the manufacturlng of the tab es is greatly simplified, as the corner brackets may be built u separately and the corner brackets as complete units inserted in each corner of the rim and secured thereto, the legs being secured to the braces 6 of the corner brackets either before or after the bracket is secured in the rim. No handling of the entire table each time a leg is pivoted thereto is necessary, as when the legs are attached to the rim.

It will be understood of course that the corner brackets 3 may be omitted and by using a sufficiently rigid top material the leg braces and legs pivoted directly on the table top and rim, and that various other modifications and changes may be made in the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a folding table, a leg pivoted adjacent each corner, a brace pivoted to the table at one end and sliding through a keeper at the other, a notch in the free end of the brace adapted to cooperate with a pin on the leg when the leg is in inoperative position, and locking means slidable on the brace to lock the notch around the pin when the leg is in inoperative position.

2. In a folding table, a leg' pivoted adjacent each corner, a brace pivoted to the table.

at one end and sliding through a keeper at the other, a notch in the free end of the brace adapted to cooperate with a pin on the leg when the leg is in inoperative position, a triangular washer on said'brace pivot, a lug on said washer urging the notched portion of said brace toward said pin, and locking means slidable on the brace to lock the notch around thepin when the leg is in inoperat1 ve position.

:3. In a folding table of the type described, a rectangular rim, a triangular corner bracket reinforcing each corner thereof, means for securing the corner brackets-in the rim, a triangular brace pivoted to the corner bracket, a leg secured to said brace, a second brace pivotedto the corner bracket at one end and sliding through a keeper on the leg, means on the second brace cooperating with the leg in inoperative position to hold'the leg unfolded, and means to automatically lock the cooperating parts together when the leg is in inoperative position.

4. In a folding table of the type described, a rectangular rim, a triangular corner bracket reinforcing each corner thereof, means for securing the corner. brackets in the rim, a triangular brace pivoted to the corner bracket, a leg secured to said brace, a second brace pivoted to the corner bracket at one end and sliding through a keeper on the leg, means on the second brace cooperating with the leg in inoperative position to hold the leg in inoperative position, means to automatically lock the cooperating parts together I when the leg is unfolded, and a triangular washer secured to said corner bracket by said second brace pivot, and a lug on said washer limiting the movement of said second brace.

5. In a folding table, a top including a rim, a triangular reinforcing corner bracket at each corner of said table, extending from one adjacent rim to the other, means to permanently secure said bracket to said rim, a triangular leg brace pivoted on each corner bracket, parallel with one rim of said table,

a leg secured to said leg brace, a second leg brace pivoted on each corner bracket, paral lel with the adjacent rim of said table, and slidably secured to said leg and triangular leg brace, and means to releasably lock said second leg brace to said leg when the table is in unfolded position.

6. A corner bracket for folding tables comprising a triangular sheet metal top having depending flanges on two sides, a triangular leg brace pivoted on said top and adapted to be secured to a table leg, a loop on said triangular leg brace, a second brace pivoted on one flange of said top and sliding through said loop and means to releasably and positively secure said second brace against movement through said loop.

7. In a folding table, a rim, a reinforcing bracket at each corner of said rim, a leg pivoted adjacent each corner, a brace secured to said leg and adapted to brace said leg against movement in one plane, a second brace slidably secured to said leg and pivoted to said table at a point spaced from the end of said leg, said brace adapted to brace said leg from movement in a second plane, and means to restrict the movement of said leg with respect to said slidable brace including a notch in the brace adjacent the end thereof, a projection on said leg contacting with said notch and a slidable element mounted on said brace adapted to normally lock said pin andnotch together.

' 8. In a folding table, a rim, a reinforcing bracket ateach corner of said rim, a leg pivoted adj acenteach corner, a brace secured to said leg and adapted to brace said leg against movement in one plane, a second brace slidably secured to said leg and pivoted to said table at a point spaced from the end of said leg, said brace adapted to brace said leg from movement in a second strict the movement 0 said leg with respect to said slidable brace-including a notch in the brace adjacent the end thereof, a projection on said leg contacting with said notch and a slidable element mounted on said brace adapt.- ed to normally look said pin and notch together, and means on the bracket to urge said brace notch into contact with said pin when said leg is completely opened.

9. In a folding table, a'leg pivoted adjacent each corner, a pin on said leg, a brace pivoted to the table at one end and slidable relative to said pin, a notch in the free end of the brace adapted to cooperate with the pin on the leg when the leg is in unfolded position, and locking means slidable on the brace to lock the notch around the pin when the leg is unfolded.

10. In a folding table of the type described, a rectangular rim, a triangular corner bracket reinforcing each corner thereof, means for securing the corner brackets in the rim, a triangular brace pivoted to the corner bracket, a

plane, and means to re- 

